Membership in Destination M, formerly known as M Private Residences, means owning a share in a portfolio of luxury vacation homes. Locations include Canada, the US, and South America, as well as further afield in Asia, Europe, and Africa. We spoke to a member who has totally made the most of their membership, by taking numerous vacations in the first year.

Catherine became a Destination M member in April 2016, after selling a vacation property in Florida. She considered several membership programs before finally deciding on Destination M. Catherine says, “One of the benefits we really enjoy is having the opportunity to use any of the properties on short-term availability (30 days or less) without cutting into our membership weeks we are allotted each year.” That aspect of membership is what “clinched the deal for us.” Since signing up, she and her husband have already made the most of their investment, with eight vacations in just nine months.

Catherine’s busy nine months of travel included:

• Apr: In Whistler, Canada.
• Apr: Enjoying the glitz of Las Vegas.
• May: A desert break at Rancho Mirage, California.
• July: A luxury penthouse in Victoria, Canada.
• Aug: Some tropical summer beach time in Mauna Lani, Hawaii.
• Oct: A transatlantic fall trip to London.
• Dec: A secluded December getaway to The Rocks in Arizona.
• Jan: Escaping the winter cold to the sunshine of Cabo San Lucas in Mexico.

The first stop in exploring all that Destination M has to offer was the ski resort of Whistler in British Columbia. The luxury 4-bedroom townhome sleeps 9 and comes complete with open fireplace and hot tub, both perfect for entertaining guests or relaxing after a hard day on the slopes. And if skiing is not to your taste, there are plenty of alternative outdoor activities to choose from, including snowmobiling in the winter or mountain biking, horseback riding, and golfing in the summer.

Across the Atlantic, Catherine stayed in the 3-bedroom London apartment with spectacular views across the city. It is within walking distance of Big Ben, the theatre district, and a host of shopping and culture attractions. The central location allows Destination M members plenty of opportunities to explore the city without having to spend time traveling in by Tube each day, yet its seventh floor location also allows for an escape from the hustle and bustle at the end of the day.

The club’s beach properties are well-suited to year-round getaways. In January 2017, Catherine was relaxing on her private patio in the Esperanza resort, in Cabo San Lucas. The 3000 square foot villa features three bedrooms with en suite baths centered around a large great room. Activities include access to the private beach club, whale watching, snorkeling, golf, and tennis. After enjoying one of the many fine dining options on offer at the resort, Catherine says they return to their villa where “we enjoyed a glass of wine by the outdoor fire pit and end the evening with a hot tub under the stars.”

One of the key benefits of Destination M membership that Catherine enjoys is the ease of ownership. She notes, “We no longer have to handle all the issues that come up owning a vacation property. Now we show up, enjoy a vacation, and then leave without having to deal with any of the hassles of ownership!” No more constant oversight of maintenance and repairs, cleaning, utility payments, and so on.

She also has nothing but the highest of praise for the Destination M staff: “At each property we have met such kind, knowledgeable, and forever helpful MBassadors, who have provided us with information about the property and area, along with recommendations of restaurants, shopping, activities, and so much more.”

At the end, Catherine simply sums it up with “Wow, what an incredible first year we have had as members.”